Hellooooooooooooo! I have finally finished my degree, which is excellent in many way, one of which is that I should have more time for this, so look out for a flurry of fanfic activity :-) I'm also considering writing a couple of one shots, but have many ideas for here so to get us started here it is: Chapter 24!
Jack's head was spinning, and it was taking most of his concentration to keep the world in focus as he stumbled out into the natural light. Pain seared up his neck and seemed to concentrate in a small area at the base of his skull. The SUV stood out amongst the handful of cars in the car park like a sore thumb. Gritting his teething and diverting a small amount of concentration to the task in hand, Jack made his way towards it.
Behind him, Martha and Mickey were making but slow but steady progress with their load. Between them the weevil wasn't a difficult weight, but it was definitely an awkward shape.
"He gonna be ok?" Mickey asked.
Martha swung another leg forward propelling herself and the weevil out into the carpark. "He should be," she said with effort as she took another step, "the wounds aren't too deep, and he's not caught any major vessels so provided we can stop that bleeding and minimise the contamination," she took in another breath and travelled forward a few more paces before continuing "then he just needs to keep it clean and allow it time to heal."
"Lots of TLC from Ianto then." Mickey joked as he staggered forward and readjusted his grip on the weevil's leg.
"Hmmm," Martha mused, "Ianto didn't sound over enamoured with Jack this morning."
"Something wrong in paradise?"
"Just a lot to take in." Martha replied thoughtfully. The last week had been somewhat of a rollercoaster for them all.
Jack placed his spare hand on the handle of the drivers door, he vision blurred. Taking a couple of careful steps to his left he moved his hand to that of the back door and dragged himself up into the back seats. Gingerly he laid himself out across the expanse of leather upholstery, and felt his entire body relax as his leaned his head back and let his eyelids fall across his cornea. He heard the click of the SUV boot unlocking and listened while the rear hatch ascended into the sky. There was a thud as Martha and Mickey dumped the Weevil and slid it as far in as they could manage, then the boot slammed shut. The pain took over his entire body now but he was less aware, or, at the very least less bothered. He'd been foolish, he knew that, determined to prove to himself he still had what it took. To prove to Gwen that he was still that hero character she adored, to prove to Ianto that he didn't need to worry. Weevil hunts had always, ideally, been the first real field experience he exposed new recruits too. As 'routine' and 'safe' as Torchwood got. But today he'd gone charging in alone, without any experienced back up, without giving Martha and Mickey the preparation they needed. Next time he mused, I'll do things differently. Reality hit him with an almight crash, next time, oh no, what if there wasn't a next time, oh, oh, and then he passed out.
"Jack! Jack" Martha screamed. Slap.
Somewhere in the distance Jack heard his name, and then felt the sensation on his cheek as Martha slapped him repeatedly. "urrrg" he mumbled with some effort.
"Thank goodness for that!" She exclaimed. "Stay with us, you need to stay with us, where are your keys?"
"Pocket." Jack whispered flapping his spare arm at the side of his coat trying to orientate himself and his surroundings.
Martha plunged a hand in, smiling with relief as her hands tightened on the hard plastic and cold metal of the SUV key. Extracting her treasure from the pocket she passed it out the door to Mickey. "You drive." she instructed thrusting the key into his palm.
"Right you are." he replied, shutting the door behind her and leaping into the drivers seat. "Always fancied driving one of these." he enthused as slid the key in the ignition and fired the engine into life. The SUV jolted forward as he slammed the gear box into first and floored the accelerator.
Back at the hub Ianto and Gwen were making progress with the unpacking; the original hub features stood proud around the collection of desks that surrounded pieces of the water tower. The remaining boxes of other objects where piled towards the far end by the expanse of shelving which had arrived the day before. The kitchen area was spotless, dishes stacked neatly in the cupboard, consumables arranged in another, and Ianto's new coffee machine stood proud on the work surface. Gwen has insisted on a virtual and physical notice board at every work station and a proper separate rest area complete with a mini nursery. She looked up from the cot as Ianto brought her a steaming mug of coffee.
"Thanks." she said gratefully accepting the offering and slumping into one of the comfy chairs.
"Your welcome." He replied, sliding into the one opposite her and taking a sip of his own and admiring their work.
Gwen mirrored him, sipping her own coffee, before gathering the courage she needed. "Ianto?" she ventured carefully.
He turned his head away from the main hub and focussed his eyes on her. "Gwen." he replied politely.
"I had a call from Rhiannon last night." Gwen said factually, barely twitching a muscle.
Ianto put his coffee on the side, suddenly he didn't think he could stomach it. "Oh?" he asked.
"She, wants to talk about telling David and Mica."
"Right," he said running one hand through his hair, and refocussing on Gwen.
"I was going to talk Jack first, you know when he got back, see what to..." she trailed off, Ianto looked appaulled. "What?" she asked, slightly concerned she was missing something.
"Jack!" Ianto exclaimed, "My sister wants to talk about tell my niece and nephew that I'm very much alive, and you wanted to talk to Jack FIRST!" he practically spat the last words at her.
"I," Gwen stuttered, "I, well you know ultimately its his decision."
Ianto just looked at her.
"Isn't it?" she asked searching his face.
"Its my family, my life!" Ianto said raising his voice.
"I know," Gwen sympathised trying to lower the tension. "But its not exactly normal, Jack has more experience than either of us."
Ianto's jaw nearly hit the floor. "Yeah," he said sarcastically "because Jack has such a good reputation for keep good family relations." He shuddred as he remembered Jack talk about Stephen.
"That was different." Gwen said quietly, starring regretfully into her coffee, trying to block out all the memories of that day. "He saved the world." she whispered.